1 . Over the past few months, I’ve been invited to speak with well-known writers, musicians and film producers regarding my recent book, Extraterrestrial. Prior to these conversations, I was on the receiving (and admiring) end of their artistic work, but now they were curious about my own research as a scientist. The reverse led me to recognize the similarities between innovation in the arts and the sciences.
In sciences and arts alike, creativity appears magically as an unpredictable fountain of inspiration from the subconscious (潜意识). Its unexpected content breaks routines within traditional thinking. It delivers something new that is distinct from common practices, often taking people out of their comfort zone because it is ahead of its time. As a result, many innovators are laughed at and denied the recognition they deserve when they need it the most.
There are many examples of such circumstances. In 1933 Fritz Zwicky inferred the existence of “dark matter”, but it took four decades for this concept to gain recognition within the astronomy community. Vincent van Gogh was considered a madman and a failure throughout his life. Today, his paintings are among the most expensive ever sold, though.
Typically, life offers two ways of acquiring objects. One is by collecting available items, and the other is by creating things that never existed before. Whereas most items on the shelves of supermarkets are mass-produced, products that are newly created by artists or scientists are originally unique. Just like aging wine, a product of creative work acquires quality over time. It is colored by the response of the audience as well as by imitations. The initial circumstances are a reminder of an admirable baby. It is fascinating for a scientist or an artist to watch the interaction of their creation with the world, just as it is for parents to watch their children.
Creativity in arts and sciences establishes a backdrop for human existence, as the content it invents gives pleasure and meaning to our lives. The human act of creation is an infinite-sum game, from which all of us benefit. And we can all participate in the creative process.
1. Which can best replace the underlined word “reverse” in paragraph 1?| A．Priority. | B．Assumption. | C．Shift. | D．Preference. |
| A．It tends to be forecastable. | B．It mirrors common beliefs. |
| C．It usually leads the times. | D．It enjoys instant acceptance. |
| A．Creative works withstand the test of time. |
| B．Mass-produced items are preferable. |
| C．Old wine can’t be put into new bottles. |
| D．Inventiveness starts from childhood. |
| A．To clarify a concept. | B．To launch an appeal. |
| C．To offer an entertainment. | D．To advocate a lifestyle. |
2 . In 2022, the Nature Conservancy launched two 5-year pilot projects at working ranches (牧场) in Kansas and New Mexico to determine if virtual fences enable land managers to better perform regenerative management practices and to assess potential benefits for biodiversity and for ranchers’ bottom lines, as well as impacts on soil carbon storage.
Applauded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a climate adaption strategy, virtual fencing is an innovative technology that enables ranchers to use a smartphone or web app to remotely monitor and control where and when cattle graze (吃草). Virtual fences can reduce the need for physical fences, which require significant time, expense and labor to maintain. Physical fences also limit land managers in their ability to change grazing boundaries to adapt to seasonal changes in vegetation or to exclude cattle from ecologically sensitive areas.
The cows are outfitted with battery-operated, GPS-enabled collars that send out a radio frequency to communicate with reception towers, creating virtual grazing boundaries set by a rancher. When a cow approaches the edge of the virtual boundary, the collar produces a sound signaling it to turn around. If the cow proceeds to cross the boundary, it receives a momentary mild shock, signaling that it’s gone too far and should rejoin its group.
Grasslands are the least protected habitat on earth and one of the most effective carbon sinks, storing up to 20% of the world’s soil organic carbon. Unfortunately, grasslands are continuing to rapidly disappear for several reasons. For ecological health, most grassland ecosystems need periods of disturbance to aerate (使透气) the soil, stimulate plant growth and recycle nutrients into the soil. Ranchers complete this disturbance-rest cycle by managing the timing, location, herd size and intensity of grazing activities, all of which can be time-consuming and painstaking.
“Currently, the costs of virtual fencing are still high, but in the long run it can help land managers better carry out management practices that regenerate land health, help address climate change and biodiversity loss,” said William Burnidge, director of the Nature Conservancy.
1. What’s stressed concerning virtual fencing in paragraph 2?| A．Its smart design. | B．Its major advantages. |
| C．Its wide application. | D．Its working principles. |
| A．It’s time to return. | B．It’s time to graze. |
| C．It’s in danger. | D．It’s in a wrong direction. |
| A．Intense efforts. | B．Polluted soil. | C．Financial failure. | D．Ecological imbalance. |
| A．Intolerant. | B．Objective. | C．Doubtful. | D．Conservative. |
3 . Travelling seemed like falsehood to me. I grew tired of backpackers expressing too much praise about how petting a baby elephant in Thailand “transformed” them. Globe-traveling to me held no more promise than finding a few bills in the pocket of an old coat. I needed something deeper than an Eat, Play, Love moment.
One day, Vasilis, my Greek best friend, reminded me of our decade-old promise: after our final exams, I would visit his hometown in Athens. Maybe, it was time to make good on that promise.
I finally boarded the plane. Vasilis picked me up at the airport. I smiled, thinking how improbable this moment seemed all those years ago.
The decade-long wait proved to be well worth it. Every step through the ancient streets revealed new wonders. However, none of them truly mattered. What would forever alter my perception of travel was a chance encounter with a local.
Vasilis and I were wandering Athens when a special sound caught our attention — a rhythmic clinking disturbing the quietness of the residential street. Curiously, we followed the sound to a humble workshop. Inside, a welder (焊工) gave no mind to our presence behind him. He wore no flashy protective suit — this was just another day for him, another dance with fire and metal that had become second nature. Under the sunshade, his orange cat rested in the comforting warmth...
As the man continued welding, I felt a bit of envy. I envied his peace and contentment. I admired the simplicity he embodied. I imagined the welder happy, finding fulfillment in his craft (手艺) and returning to his loving family...The moment moved me to tears. Leaving the workshop, rain blending with tears, I realized how easily life’s poetry could pass unnoticed.
Home again in Montreal, I stop simply pursuing better things, better experiences and better people that are never grasped. I realize the real journey is inward — to appreciate life’s ordinary magic. That sure beats petting any baby elephant. I may not have returned home “transformed,” but I’ll always think of the welder and his cat.
1. Which aspect of travelling makes the author feel uneasy?| A．Shortage of adequate funds. | B．Discomfort in dietary habits. |
| C．Overstatement of travel’s effects. | D．Danger of petting baby animals. |
| A．Meeting a commitment. | B．Exploring a unique landscape. |
| C．Receiving further education. | D．Escaping from the current life. |
| A．Poems written by masters. | B．Peace and simplicity. |
| C．Spirit of craftsmanship. | D．Special sound in the street. |
| A．Friendship Lasts Forever | B．Travelling Shapes a Better Self |
| C．Pursuit of Happiness Never Stops | D．The Ordinary Makes Extraordinary |
4 . For the 150th anniversary of the first Impressionist exhibition, the Musée d’Orsay, which houses the world’s largest collection of this current, is offering a major retrospective (回顾展) of this artistic trend with Paris 1874: Inventing Impressionism from March 26 to July 14.
150 years ago, on April 15, 1874, in a luxurious photographer Nadar’s studio in northern Paris, Berthe Morisot, Edouard Degas and Claude Monet came together as a cooperative limited company to open the first Impressionist exhibition, a movement that would forever change the course of art history.
The retrospective will take visitors on a virtual tour to the very moment 150 years ago. During the 40-minute immersive (沉浸的) tour, visitors will spend a virtual evening with the famous impressionists and travel by steam train to Bougival, west of Paris, where many of them worked. Visitors will then tour the main exhibition, which opens into a gallery with Renoir’s La Parisienne and La Danseuse that featured in the 1874 exhibition, and other impressionist paintings, drawings and sculptures.
“The immersive experience is unique and innovative. You can go into this exhibition and relive the evening with the artists and discover the origin of this movement. We want to recreate the emotion for visitors of the 1874 exhibition.” said Abastado, director of digital development at the Musée d’Orsay.
Guidelines:* The experience is suitable for children of 11 y/o and above; children under 8 y/o are prohibited.
* We remind you that, in view of the technology used, virtual reality experiences are not recommended for people with balance or vision disorders.
* Walkers and motorized wheelchairs are not permitted in the space, but manual wheelchairs are accepted.
1. What’s the retrospective mainly aimed at?| A．Protecting cultural diversity. | B．Fueling people’s love for art. |
| C．Showing honor to late artists. | D．Marking the birth of a movement. |
| A．Painting a picture on the spot. | B．Driving a steam train in person. |
| C．Meeting famous impressionists. | D．Staying overnight in the gallery. |
| A．An eight-year-old boy. | B．An adult with a walker. |
| C．A visually-challenged girl. | D．A teenager in a manual wheelchair. |
5 . Human voices cause considerably more fear in wild animals than the sound of lions, a study in South Africa has found.
The Kruger National Park is a popular safari (观兽旅行) destination and is known for its diverse wildlife. Scientists played recordings of people talking normally through speakers hidden at water holes in the Kruger National Park. About 95% of animals were extremely frightened and quickly ran away. Surprisingly, recordings of growling lions brought about significantly less alarm. Some elephants, in response to the big catcalls, even attempted to face the source of the sound.
The human speech they chose to play included local languages commonly spoken in the country. The study’s findings suggest that the animals, which include antelopes, elephants, giraffes, leopards and wild pigs, have learnt that contact with humans is extremely dangerous, due to hunting, gun use and the use of dogs to catch them.
Over the years, the encroachment (入侵) of human settlements into wildlife habitats and hunting have led to a deep-seated fear of humans among wildlife. The fear goes beyond the Kruger National Park, showing a global pattern where wildlife tends to fear humans more than any other enemies, according to the study. This fear of humans is a challenge for areas that rely on wildlife tourism, as the human visitors they want to attract are scaring off the animals they have come to see.
The study opens up the potential to protect weak species in these ecosystems. Human sounds, when used appropriately, could help protect wildlife against illegal hunting. This research also highlights the great importance of respectful and responsible wildlife tourism. One thing is clear: the need for a balanced approach to wildlife conservation and tourism has never been greater. As we step into their world, we must remember that we are visitors and that they are rightful inhabitants.
1. How was the study conducted in paragraph 2?| A．By making comparison. | B．By raising questions. |
| C．By studying the recordings. | D．By presenting previous researches. |
| A．The voice of human is scary. | B．Human presence threatens them. |
| C．Human beings are stronger than them. | D．They are sensitive to the sounds in nature. |
| A．Human visitors will be safer. | B．Animal species will be reduced. |
| C．Wildlife tourism will suffer loss. | D．Wild animals will be more dangerous. |
| A．Illegal hunting can be prevented. | B．Wildlife habitats will get enlarged. |
| C．A new way to protect wildlife is inspired. | D．The balance between human and nature is strengthened. |
6 . Kurt, one of Australian most respected and recognized athletes, has won over 40 marathons, including New York, Chicago and London, in his career of more than 20 years. He became the first athlete with a disability to win The Don Award-given to honor those whose achievements inspire the whole nation—in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2018.
Kurt has always been determined. Being born without the lower part of his spine (脊椎) has never held him back, from backyard games of football to crewing an attractive Sydney to Hobart ship and winning dozens of marathons around the world.
Growing up in a large and loving family in the small town of Carcoar, Kurt was encouraged to make the most of every opportunity, and he did. He took on almost every challenge presented to him, encouraged by his parents. He even managed to move himself on his elbows up and down hills at an early age.
Turning his attention to wheelchair sports in his teens, Kurt quickly became a world beater. He started his career with two silver medals at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, before making his winning breakthrough at the 2004 Athens Paralympics with gold medals in the 5,000m and marathon races. Following the 2004 Paralympics, Kurt conquered the world, winning seven world championships and more than 30 marathons around the globe.
Kurt is a person who supports the rights of people with disabilities. He throws himself into a number of charitable activities. For example, in 2009, Kurt spent two weeks crawling (爬) the 96 kilometer Kokoda Track to raise awareness and money for people’s health charity.
While Kurt’s athletic career is over, his commitment (投入) to sports and support for people with disabilities live on in so many different forms. Kurt believes that people with disabilities should be given more opportunities.
1. What does paragraph 1 tell us about Kurt?| A．He contributed a lot to American spirit. | B．He is the most popular marathon athlete. |
| C．He is the first athlete to win the Don Award. | D．He is a disabled athlete with great achievements. |
| A．Kurt’s living conditions were poor. | B．Kurt’s parents were strict with him. |
| C．Kurt’s tough life inspired his creation. | D．Kurt’s childhood saw his determination. |
| A．A sick teenager. | B．A blind boy. | C．An injured athlete. | D．A potential champion. |
| A．Learn to walk before your run. | B．Ups and downs make one strong. |
| C．Become the light and warm others. | D．Disability is a force for great progress. |
7 . Think Better, Live Better (TBLB) is the go-to event for YOU, if you are serious about taking action to reclaim your happiness and realize your true potential (潜能). If you want to attend a life-changing conference filled with world-class experts who care, this is it! Don’t simply wonder if there’s a better way, just join in the TBLB conference! Here are the replies to the common concerns.
Tickets for the entire weekend experience begin at $399 (VIP tickets are accessible for $499). A ticket can ensure you to get direct access to Marc and Angel and all speakers throughout the weekend who are there to help you and access to all the keynotes and workshops. Because all seating is allocated (分配) to individual attendees at this event, all tickets sold are final. We have worked with the Catamaran Resort to provide discounted room rates to our attendees. Rooms will be $199/night. You will receive the reservation link once your TBLB tickets have been bought.
TBLB main events take place from Friday, February 9th to Sunday, February 11th (which includes opening parties, special events, and all main-stage sessions). For the planners out there, it will be best to arrive in San Diego on Friday, February 9th and leave on Monday, February 12th for the complete TBLB experience. If you can’t come for that long, at least make sure that you’re there by Saturday morning (8: 30am), the 10th, and leave no earlier than Sunday evening (5:00 pm), the 11th.
If you have additional questions or concerns, we’re happy to help. Please email Angel at angel@marcandangel.com.
1. What is the purpose of the text?| A．To inform the schedule of the TBLB main events. |
| B．To answer the frequently asked questions of TBLB. |
| C．To encourage readers to keep up high spirits in daily life. |
| D．To tell the prices of the ticket and accommodation of the event. |
| A．It can be returned before the meeting. |
| B．It can help you enjoy a discounted room. |
| C．Booking it in advance can save money. |
| D．Getting it is difficult for common people. |
| A．1 day. | B．2 days. | C．3 days. | D．4 days. |
8 . How to Achieve Your Dreams
If you’re in a position where you want to achieve your dreams, but you’ve lost your way, you’re not alone.
If you’re prone (倾向) to negativity, it’s not uncommon. It’s easy for people to pick up on negativity and spread it. Be very intentional about the development of a positive mindset. Whether you choose to watch motivational films, or read inspirational books, work on developing a positive mindset.
When you’re looking to fulfill a dream, the environment is so critical. Pay attention to the people within your environment. If your friends wake up late, hang out a lot and avoid responsibilities, it’s only a matter of time before they try to get you to do the same thing.
In order to achieve any worthwhile dream, you’ll have to develop a high level of discipline.
When you’re disciplined, you’ll sit down to complete a task without giving in to your emotions.
| A．Take a detailed look at the goals you have. |
| B．When you don’t feel like working, you still get it done. |
| C．Therefore, limit the amount of time you spend with them. |
| D．It’s one of the most desired qualities to become a model. |
| E．There are plenty of people who give up on dreams in the process. |
| F．Think about the tools for packaging such as tape, boxes and bubble wrap. |
| G．You’re more likely to achieve your dreams when you’re positive through challenges. |
9 . You may have visited antique stores and found cutting-edge goods in second-hand furniture stores, but have you ever stooping? On the streets of big cities at night, some young people are “looking for something”. Obsessed with the spiritual core of the old thing recycling, they fell in love with it. But what exactly is stooping?
In fact, this English word originally meant “bending over”, and now refers to a way of life of picking up discarded items and renovating and recycling old things, which originally emerged in New York and other foreign big cities.
Since the beginning of last year, the trend of “stooping” has spread to many big cities in China and many young people look for second-hand items such as discarded furniture on the streets, take home and repurpose them with a new look. In order to make the flow of information better, some “stoopers” have also built communities where group members can share “treasures” on the street with each other.
Mikiko, 27, is reportedly one of the first people in China to get involved in practicing stooping. At first, she posted online things that people no longer use, want to throw away, or exchange at home, and slowly hundreds of messages flooded in and since then, stooping has become more and more popular among young people. Mikiko admitted that she was surprised that the concept has become a hit on social media, as older generations often stigmatize picking up things from the street or using second-hand goods. “People like my mom consider stooping as’rubbish-picking’, and people will be looked down upon by doing this.” She even created an app called “Grecycle” where people can give away or take unwanted items for free, hoping people may realize that stooping can also be about doing good and helping others.
This generation of young people has given “new life” to old things, practiced social responsibility in their own environmentally friendly ways in life, and also contributed to the circular economy and sustainable society.
1. What do we know about “stooping” in this text?| A．It was developed in England. | B．It equals to rubbish-picking. |
| C．It is an expression to show respect. | D．It is a way to turn trash to treasure. |
| A．To show off their good use of items. |
| B．To argue about the misuse of good treasure. |
| C．To share the information of the discarded items. |
| D．To make some comments on the abandoned items. |
| A．Be skilled at. | B．Be ashamed of. |
| C．Be fed up with. | D．Be accustomed to. |
| A．Second-hand stores are worth visiting. |
| B．Big cities offer more job opportunities. |
| C．Young people spend less than older people. |
| D．The young have a stronger eco-awareness. |
10 . Nightmare disorder is characterized by frequent nightmares that cause unhappiness and greatly impact our life. But a new approach is added to existing therapy (疗法) by introducing certain sounds which can help a person to turn their nightmare into a sweet dream.
The existing therapy, called Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), is already used as a way to reduce the frequency and intensity of nightmares. “You write down the bad dream in a very detailed way and then create new endings that are nonfrightening for nightmares,” said Dr. Kilkenny, the director of the Institute of Sleep Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital.
In this newly published study, the 36 participants were divided into 2 equal-sized groups. Both groups practiced IRT, but the second group additionally used Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR). TMR works by associating the stimulation (刺激) of a specific sound with a specific thought while you’re awake. The daily practice saw them completing IRT with added TMR. The 36 participants were then recorded for 2 weeks as they slept.
Fortunately for the dreamers, both groups saw an improvement in their sleep and a drop in nightmare frequency. However, the group who had received the combination of IRT and TMR saw a drop in nightmare frequency that lasted for three months beyond the study — and even began to experience more joyful dreams instead of nightmares. “The study shows again that IRT alone works to improve nightmare disorder, but the new change is that the addition of TMR to IRT not only improves nightmare disorder but also increases the amount of positive dream experiences,” said Kilkenny.
While the results of this study are encouraging, it might be difficult to carry out them on your own. “If you’re experiencing frequent or serious nightmares, it may be helpful to first address your sleeping habits and make sure your are getting enough sleep with regular sleep and wake times,” said Dr. Dimitriu, the founder of Menlo Sleep Medicine in California.
1. What are patients required to do in IRT?| A．Listen to calming music during sleep. |
| B．Record their frequency of nightmares. |
| C．Recreate a pleasant ending for the nightmare. |
| D．Tell the doctor about details of their nightmares. |
| A．By taking sleeping medicine. |
| B．By practicing IRT more times. |
| C．By introducing sound stimulation. |
| D．By recording sounds in nightmares. |
| A．Participants tend to sleep longer than before. |
| B．TMR could enhance the effectiveness of IRT. |
| C．The sound treatment can help improve sleeplessness. |
| D．The nightmares can be avoided by both TMR and IRT. |
| A．Taking regular exercises. | B．Doing a medical checkup. |
| C．Seeking accurate examination. | D．Adjusting the sleeping habits. |
